The Latest Archives

Honor – and elevate – all programs
during Scholastic Journalism Week

by John Bowen With Scholastic Journalism Week starting Feb. 22, it would serve us well to note SPLC executive Frank LoMonte’s words in this week’s Education Week. LoMonte covers a number of points he suggests disrespect and trivialize high school journalism: mistreating female scholastic journalists, establishing the lowest, barely legal level of freedom for scholastic media and…

Don’t shoot (just) the messenger
in Williams’ fall from grace

By Megan Fromm, CJE When Brian Williams apologized on air for misremembering his involvement in a direct-fire incident during the Iraq war, critics and media pundits alike were quick to toss him off his pedestal. We may never know whether Williams intentionally misled his audience or truly suffered from a lapse in memory (and judgment), but…

New Hampshire bill may do more
than control surveys

by Stan Zoller The First Amendment guarantees five freedoms: freedom of religion, speech, press, the right to assemble and the right to petition. And while journalists – whether student journalists or professional journalists – wrap themselves in the security blanket afforded Americans by the First Amendment, it does not guarantee good journalism. What does help,…

Picture Freedom scholarship available

Students 13 and older can win a $1,ooo scholarship by sharing photos and artwork that illustrate freedom of expression in competition announced Feb. 3 by 1 for All and its partners. Obtain information about the contest here. Click here to download the official rules. A guest column by Ken Paulson, president of the Newseum Institute’s First Amendment Center,…

Contests can help promote
students making decisions

“You mean my students’ newspaper can’t win the top award? Just because I read their publication before it goes to press?” an irate principal asked when he called his state’s scholastic press association a few years ago. Well, not exactly, but in a way – yes.

Our best dream: start from the beginning

An article in the Washington Times titled “Liberals’ worst nightmare: South Carolina schools move toward pro-gun curriculum,” caught our attention tonight. SC Rep. Alan Clemmons’ proposal would allow, according to the Washington Times, “reasonable pro-gun expression by students.” The proposal would require instruction on the right to bare arms for at least three consecutive weeks…

The freedom to speak:
the John Wall Voices Act

by Faith Harron, sophomore Century High School Century Star newsmagazine The Constitution of the United States guarantees all are created free and equal and endowed with the same rights. When it comes to journalism, though, many high school and college students are not equal to their adult counterparts. Some a few in North Dakota are trying…

Documenting biodiversity in Chicagoland

Third in a 10 part series of student journalists Making a Difference In Carolyn Fritts journalistic writing course, at Glenbard West High School, in Glen Ellyn, Ill., she requires students to a research local topic and produce a comprehensive film documentary as their final exam. Students set out to discover what happens to Chicago when…

North Dakota introduces legislation
to protect student expression

With North Dakota’s introduction of a freedom of expression bill Jan. 19, student journalists in other states might want to know how to work on legislation in their states. The John Wall New Voices Act is designed to protect student First Amendment rights both public high schools and public and private colleges. Seven states have passed…

Scholastic journalists often
face demands like Delauter’s

by Mark Goodman I strongly encourage every student publication adviser being told his or her students can’t use names or photos in their print or online publications because of FERPA (or some other manufactured privacy justification) to read the Frederick News Post’s editorial on this crazy Frederick County council member, Kirby Delauter, and his demand…

There’s a reason we need to
‘be bold and stand firm’

by Stan Zoller The 18-word Tweet said it all. “This attack on freedom of speech and freedom of press must not be tolerated. Be bold. Stand firm.” And so it is, another militant organization seeks to spew its venom on innocent people because of ideological differences. This one goes far beyond the offices of Charlie…

Working together can make a difference

by Stan Zoller, MJE Maybe we should take a cue from our brethren in sports. Let’s win one for the Gipper. All for one and one for all. “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” – Vince Lombardi As…